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A. D D R E S S 

OP THK 

CAMERON AND LINCOLN CLUB 

OK TilE 

CITY OF CHICAGO, ILL,, 

TO THE PEOPLE OF THE mWi\ WEST. 



Bi' a resolution of the ^Camerox and Lincoln Clit? of the 
City of Ciiicago, it was made the duty of tlie Executive Com- 
mittee to address you in referen<ie to the nomination by the 
National RepubUcan Convention, of the Hon. Simox Ca.mekox 
of Pennsylvania, for President, and Hon. Abraham Lixcoj.x, of 
Illinois, for Vice-President of the United States. 

While we would earnestly uroe the nomination of these dis- 
tinguished Statesmen, convinced as we are that they are the 
men for the times, in whose hands the honor of the Crovernment, 
and the cause of free soil, may with safety be confided, it is not 
our purpose to reflect upon any of the otiier distinguished can- 
didates, or to disparage their claims to the nomination. 

The policy of the Democratic j)arty has a tendency to decjrade 
free labor, to give the slave power control of the Government 
to fix slavery upon territory now free, and to re-open that '>-re:itesi 
of all iniquities, the African slave trade. To this policv, and 
such doctrines, we are unalterably opposed. Like the Father of 
our country, we are op]>03ed to t;he .spread of slavery into any 
new territory, and believe that Congress has entire control 
over the territories for their government, a doctrine which met 
the approval of the foundei's of our Republic, received their 
sanction, and was exercised by Congress from the oroaniiiatioa 
of the government imtil the repeal oT the Missouri Coin].ronu>=e 
in 1854. 

The heresy that slavery exists in the territories of the ITuited 
States, under the Constitution, is in direct antagonism with the 
Constitution, which declares that Congress shairmaLe all needful 
rules and regulations for the government of the territories and 



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'■'■that no person shall be deprived of Hf<', H.herlij or proptrly, 
ii-lthout due ■process of law.''' It is anti-Aiiieriean and anti-Re- 
publican, and should be frowned upon and repudiated by every 
iVeeman and lover of the principles jironnUgated in the Declara- 
tion of Independence. There is no po'wfir in the Constitution 
eonferring the right upon a citizen of a State to carry Slaves 
into any territories of the United States; and we maintain thaf 
ihe instant he does so, they become free. Such behig the fad', 
w hile tlie Constitution shall be maintained, Ave deiiy the right of 
any power in this government to plant slavery in any of our 
lerritories, or to give it legal existence there. 

In nrging the nomination of Gen. Cameron for the J^residency, 
we do so because of his devotion to the principles of free soil, 
his h'lcrh administrative ability, his advocacy of the protective 
indnslrv of the conntry, liis' availability, atid the l^u-t that lu- 
would, "if elected, administer the attairs of the government ui)on 
strictly liepublican principles. 

Ceil. Cameron is no ordinary man. He was born to toil. He 
is from the ranks of the people ; his sympathies are Avith theiu, 
and liis whole life is an exemplification ol' devotion to their in- 
terests. A Laboring man himself, he has always striven to dignify 
and elevate labor. He declared in the United States Senate in 
18-i(J, when o))posing the reduction of the tarift'of 1842: " What 
1 ha\ e done lias been with a view of showing the great import- 
ance of this trade, now threatened Avith destruction, witli no 
motive that I can see, nnless it be to build up in the Smith a 
lordly aristocracy, Avho have no conception of the dignity ol" 
lal)or. It shall liot be said hereafter that this calamity was 
tjrouirlit upon the kiboring men of my country without all the 
effort in mv ])0wcr to prevent it. My sym])athies are Avith the 
people. I came from among the children of toil, ami l)y constant 
application and honest labor, liave reached the proud position 1 
occupy. The best legacy I could desire to leave my <'hildren, 
would be the fact, that J had eontrihiited to defeat a measure 
lVau«->-ht, as I believe this is, w ith calamiTy to those witli whom 1 
have mingled all my life."' 

He is the descendant of the Camerons of Scotland, one of the 
])ravest of the Highland elans, and of Conrad Pfout/,, a German 
Mugenot, who, beeausc of his religious belief, was driven from 
Ills native land, came to this country. ;ind greatly distinguished 
himself in the Avar with the Indians. 

On the Sth oi" March, ITDl), (ien. Cameron was born in May- 
tOAvn, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania. His lather was a Avorking 
man, and was noted for his strict integrity. In ISOS he removed 
to Xortliumberland, upon the Sus(|uehanna liiver, where he 
shortlv after died. His mother being thus left a Avidow, with no 
me.'ius* for the edueation of her young and growing family, 
aUhouL<h a Avoman of great energy of character, felt tlie heavy 
responsibility that was resting n|ion her; and discouraging nud 
disheartening as wnc the inllueiuM'^ by which she was surruuuij- 
ed. fallhtullv' lulled I" ker|. lier lillle ones together. 



Siuioii, tliPii a l)oy of ht'twe^^'ii nine and ten yfarsi of a^c, de- 
elarccl he was old enough (u mnko his own liviui;, juul Aras soon 
employed to rarry the mail on horseback from ITarrisbtirg io 
Wilkes narre. It Mas a lonely, and at thiit time Avild and <lrcary 
road, but the boy was equal to liis task, and for several years 
" rode (he mail,'' to the satisfaetion of his employer. 

Determininij; to learn a trade, ho apprenticed himself Io the 
printing business, but his employer failing, he took his bundU; 
under his arm, and without a dollar in his pocket, but a brave 
heart and determined 'svill, turned his back upon his home and 
set out to seek employment. At Harrisburg, lie engaged in the 
office of .Ta:mes Pt^.vcock, Esq., as an apprentice, with whom he 
fijiished learning his profession. During his apprenticeship he 
w as a close student, frequently studying all night, and yet pei-- 
forming the quota of Avork required of liim. At the expiration 
of Ins apprenticeship, he went to "Washington City, Avhere he 
vv-orked as a journeyman in the office of the National Intelli- 
gencer, and in 1822 he returned to Harrisburg, and became one 
of the Editors of the l^ennsyWania Intelligencer, the then organ 
of the Democratic party at the seat of Government. 

He at once took high rank as an Editor, and became one of 
tlie master spirits of his party. His originality of thought, his 
force, vigor, and terseness as a Avriter, attracted public attention 
(o him, and soon the young Editor found himself at the head ol 
his profession in the State. It was, for him, a triumph indeed. 
Friendless and alone, he had commenced life, not even enjoying 
(he advantages of a comraoTi school education. He had struggled 
nobly for the mastery, and found himself, a very young man, 
'X'.cupying a position, socially and politically, of which any young 
juan might be justly proud. He loved his profession. Office 
had no charms for him, for he declined a nomination for Congress, 
with the knowledge that he could be elected without difficidty. 
r-Iovcruor Jno. Andrew Shultz appointed him -Adjutant Genera! 
of the State, which, office he accepted, as it did not interfere with 
his Editorial labors, and it is needless to say he discharged the 
duties in a satisfactory numner. 

In 1S29 he retired from the Editorial chair of the jnlelligenrer, 
and sometime after, a Charter for the Middletown Bank having 
been obtained. Gen. Cameron Avas, on its organization, cbctcii 
Cashier, and held, that position for twenty-seven consecutive 
years. During that time he was actively engaged in jjolitics, 
and also connected Avith all the important internal improvements 
of the State — for which, to him, more than any other one man, 
T*eimsylvania is indebted. 

The Presidential caniitaign ol' 1841: was one of t!ie ui<.»sl e.xeil 
ing anil bitter ever Avitnesscd in Pennsylvania. The .Mining and 
Manufacturing interest demanded that the Protective system 
which liad becui adopted, should remain uiulistnrbcil. 

Tnder its benign Inlluence their fai'naces, forgi's and roUiM^ 
mills were in full and snctcessful o])eration. L.abor ('(nnmanded its 
highest reward; the tarmer had a home market, and his produce 



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comtnauded remunerative prices. Mr. Polk was believed to 
favor the doctrine of free trade, but his party friends 2>ointed to 
the Kane letter, as evidence of his soundness on the tariff, and 
he was elected. He called Mr. Buchanan, who was then in the 
U. S. Senate, into his Cabinet, Avhich left a vacancy in that body. 
The Democrats in the Legislature, in caucus, nominated Hon. 
Geo. W. Woodward, and as they had a majority of seventeen or 
eighteen in joint ballot, they were confident of his election. 
Mr. Woodward was known to be opposed to the Protective 
policy, and tbe Whigs and tariff Democrats resolved to elect a 
Senator whom they knew to be sound on that question, and Gen. 
Cameron was that man. He was elected, and fierce and bitter 
Avere the denunciations hurled against him by the Administration, 
and by the party press of the State. 

In 1S4G the McKay bill came u]> in the Senate, by which it 
was proposed to strike down the tariff of 1842. Gen. Cameron, 
true to his principles and pledges, in the face of his party, 
opposed it, and fought it so hard that it only passed by the 
casi'mg vote of Vice-President Dallas, of Penn., to whom he 
administered the following well merited and scathing rebuke : 

" We are told out of the House that this bill is to become a law by the cast- 
ing vote of the Vice-President. I am happy to saj^ that I have seen no evidence 
of such intention, nor will I believe that there is such a design, until I am con- 
vinced bj' the evidence of my own senses. To all the incjuiries that have been 
made of me I have said that it cannot be ; that no native Pennsylvanian, hon- 
ored with the trust and confideuce of his fellow-citizens, could prove recreant 
to that trust, and dishonor the State that gave him birth. His honorable name, 
and the connections of his ancestry v\''ith her history, forbid it. His own pub- 
lic acts and written sentiments forbid it. If, .ns has been said, this question is 
to be settled by the casting vote of the Vice-President, he will not, as a wise 
man, adopt a bill which no Senator will father; but will rather, taking advan- 
tage of his high and honorable position, make one which shall contribute to the 
happiness of our people and the glory of our common country. Let him not 
be allured by the voice of flattery from the sunny south. Iso man can be 
strong abroad, who is not strong at home. Before a public man risks a 
desperate leap, he should i-emember that political gratitude is prospective ; 
that desertion of home, of friends, and of country, may V)e hailed by tbe 
winning party when the traitor is carrying in the flag of his country; but when 
the honors of the nation whom he has served^ are to be distributed, none are 
given to him. 

" "Will any man believe that a son of South Carolina, occupying that chair, 
elected under such cireunastances, with the casting vote in his hands on this 
bill, would give that vote contrary to the almost unanimous wishes of his own 
State? And shall it be said that a Pennsylvanian has less attachment for his 
Commonwealtli than a son of Carolina? I have said that I will not believe it. 
and as evidence that it cannot he so, I give, in conclusion, the following elo- 
quent passage from a speech of tlie Hon. George M. Dallas, when occupying 
the seat I now hold, on a question precisely similar to the one now before us. * 

.Extract from a Speech of Mr. Dallas on the Tariff^ of 1832. 

" 1 am infle.xible, sir, as to nothing but adequate protection. Tlie process of 
attaining that may undergo any mutation. Secure (ha/, to the liome labor of 
this country, Hud our opponents shall have, as far as my voice and suffrage 
can give it tliem, a 'c«>7fi hlaiiche' whereon to settle any arrangement or 
adjustment their intelligence may suggest. It might have been expected, not 
\inreasonably, that they who desired change, 8ho\ild tender their prajet ; that 
they would designate noxious particulars and intimate their remedies ; that 



8 

take no thought for the political fate of any maa whomsoever — but come back 
to tiio truths that are in tlie Dedai'dtiou of ludependeuce. You muj' do aiiythiag 
wdth me you choose, if you 'will but. heed theae naci-ed priiicipled. Ymi may 
not ouly defeat me for the Senate, but y"U nuiy tnke luid put me to death. 
While i)roteuding no indift'ei'eace to earlhly honors, I do claim to be iietuated 
ill this contest by somothiiij!; hicfher than nn anxiety for otlice. I eharge yoii 
to drvp every palti'v and insignilleant thought foi- uuy ijuiu'm suceet-ses. It is 
nothing; I am nothing; Judge Ootiglas is nothing. Bui do not desli'oi/ that 
ciiiiitortid eiiihleiit of Hamaiiity — tlie Dt.claiatlun of A mcricau fiidrucudc/icc. 

We have thus brielly given a sketcli of the life, chuiaeter, and 
]iublie services of our ca.ii<lid:ites, and feel conlident that their 
nomination would be followed by their triumphant election. To 
keep the election out of Congress, we must seinire the electoral 
vote of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The next electoral vote 
will be 306, should Kansas be admittcnl into the ITnion d»irinj< 
the pi-esent session ol' Congress; consequently it will t.ake 15-1 
votes to elect. Of these the free States will cast 186, and the 
slave States 1"20, Without I'ennsylvania and New Jersey, we 
cannot elect, even if our candidate shouKl receive the votes of 
every other Northern State; -wliile with them we will succeed, 
though we lose the States of Illinois, Indiana, California and 
Oregon, The nomination of ^\Ir. Lincoln will secure xis the votes 
of Illinois and Indiana, and we liope to carry Oregon and (Jali- 
fornia also. 

We ;/ir/^ succeed with other candidates; with Cameron and 
Lincoln, we vnll. The caUse of human freedom is of more im- 
portance than the success of t\ny individual. Personal prefer- 
ence should be waived, and we should unite upon men who, 
while they represent the principles of our partv, are also 
available, 

B}' order of the Executive Committee, 

FEPvNANDO JONES, 

Chairman. 
Published by order of tlie Club, 

Charles V. Dyek, President. 
Jo. W. Bell, Secretary. 



ELECTORAL VOTES. 



Maine 8 

New Hampsblie 5 

Vc! inorit ft 

Massachusetts la 

Rhode Islaud 4 

Oonnectlout t; 

New Yoik 35 

-■■iciv Jersey 7 

Pennsylvania il 

Ohio '23 

Michigan 6 

Indiana l!j 

Illinois ]/y, \]yi 

Idwa 4 

Wisconsin 

California 4 

Oregon 8 

Kansas y 

Minnesota 4 

Total It6 



Viriginla In 

Delaware i 

Maryland 8 

NorMi Carolina lU 

South Carolina S 

«!eorgia 10 

Alabama l) 

M iBsissippi T 

Louisiana 6 

Arkansas 4 

Tennessee VJ 

Kentucky 12 

Missouri 9 

Florida 8 

Texas 4 

Total 12U 



vole of Poiins}lv;iuia and New Jei-.sey, wliicli will a^ain be the 
>)attle ground, as it was in ISoti. 

In point of administrative ability, Gen Cameron has few equals, 
and no superiors. He is a man of unquailing courage, and would 
!K)ld the helm of our ship of State with a firm and steady hand. 
A working man himself, he is untiring in his devotion to the 
interests of those he represents. The interests of the eoinitry, 
of freedom, and of the party, demands his nomination, and we 
ask you to give his claims to the Presidency the consideration lo 
which they arc justly entitled. 

With the history of Mr. Lincoln and his political record you 
are already familiar. He is a native of Kentucky, and like Gen. 
('ameron, from the ranks of the people, the architect o\ his own 
I'ortune. He had not the advantages hi his youth of either 
schools or colleges, yet through his o^\'n exertions has obtained 
a most liberal and thorough education. 

Mr. Lincoln is an able lawyer, and stands at the head of hii* 
profession in the central part of tlie State. For more than thirty 
vears he has been a resident of Illinois, and although he has 
always taken an active part in politics, has never sought oHice. 

When elected to the House of Representatives of Illinois, and 
to the Congress of the United States in 18 MI, it was without 
ettbrt on his part. During the existence of the Whig party, he 
was an active and leading member o[' that party in this State, tbl- ■ 
lowing in the footsteps of the illustrious Clay, who declared in 
18.50, "the Constitution neither created, nor does it continue 
Slavery,"* and on the organization of the Republican party, uni- 
tt?d with it, and is now regarded as one of tiie ablest among the 
ehami)ions of freedom and free soil. 

In his canvass in 1S.3S with Judge Douglas for the U. S. Senator- 
shii>, he proved himself an able <lebater, and a profound States- 
man. He has the popular heart of Illinois. The jiurity of his 
life, the nobleness of his heart, the fervor of his eloquence, the 
honesty of pm']H).se ibr which he is characterized, and the bold- 
ness with which he has ever battled for die right, and denounce*! 
the wrong, entith' liim to the coniid^fncc i^.nd v('s|)cci of the Ameri- 
can people. 

lie has always bven distinguished for his conservatism, ami 
patriotism, and it is meet that tlu- Ilcpulilican National Conven- 
tion should lionor the Ivppublicans of the Xortli-west by placing 
upon the ticket their re})resentative man. 

In sjieaking of the doctrines contained in the Declaration oj' 
Independence, in one of his discussions with .ludge Douglas, ht; 
said : 

" Ndu-, my ODUiitryiuoii, if you liave beeu taiiglil doeliinos onnliiclini; with 
till' iffurtt laiuliU!ti-k--i of the DochHriition of Imiept'inlenee ; if you luive listeiiwl 
to sti^j^t^stioii.s whicii would take iiwuy from its ;^i'aiuit,'ur, aiul ru\it.ilate Ihe; 
syiiJi'iietry of its i(ro])iirtioii.-*; if you have Ix'.'u im'liiu'd to hcliove thut, nil iiicii 
iU-6 iKit ertialiiil ■•cpial in those iiiali* iiablu righls sijuiiiKi'atei.i Ijy oiU' <liarl. i«f' 
liJteriy. let me etilrtiat you to nnui iiaok. llelura to thu fountain wliose 
WtttfeTs sprifig elocje bv tlie blood of the Revolutiou. I'liiuk nothing uf luf — 



Tntclligt'ttcev, took the jiOMti<ni upon the Slavpry quGStion now 
oocupied by the Kcpultlican party, oppo.sitiun io the extension 
of .Slavery into tlic territory of tlio United States, and that the 
Federal Government lia^ power to restrict it to its present limits. 
He uniformly voted to prohibit the introduction of Slavery into 
any territory ac(^[uired from ^Mexico, and also f<.)r the non-exten 
>^ion of Shivery, proviso io tlieT'hroe Millioii Loan i>ill. In 1S4T, 
although strongly urged, lie declined being a candidate for Gov- 
ernor of Pennsylvania, at a time Avheii he \voi)ld have been 
trimnphantly elected. 

In ISoT he became a candidate iov the U. S. Senate, and 
alfhongh the President elect Avarmly supported Col. Jno. W. 
Forney, and urged \ipon the Democratic party, who were in the 
majority in the Legislature, his election, such was the known 
devotion of Gen. CsMiieron to the industrial interests of the State, 
that three members of the Legislature, representing mining and 
manufacturing counties, although elected as Democrats, disre- 
garded party ties, voted for hiiu, thereby securing his elec- 
tion, and it is the fact that the county most deeply interested 
in those branches of industry, endorsed the course of her tv.'o 
Tiepresentatives in supporting General Cameron by casting her 
vote for the opposition party at the two last elections. 

Pending the passage of the Lecomptou Constitution, he stood 
by the side of Seward, Hale, and Sumner, and fought that iniqui- 
tous measure at every step of the proceedings. For weeks he 
resisted the attempts of Senator Green, of Missouri, the chosen 
champion of the Siavei-y propagandists, and the organ of the 
President in tlic Senate, to force it to a vote before its^ opponents 
were ready. The English Bill he denounced as " a trick to 
impose upon a weak man, or to enable corru[)i men. to make (he 
impression upf»n their constituents at hoiiu' that thev have acted 
honestly. 

Gen. Cameron is the warm and decided advocate of thePacilic 
liail Koad, a Homestead law, the improvement oi" Kivcrs and 
Harbors, and of all those wise and just measures which will be 
the means of building up the (ireat West, of developing its 
resources, and which will enable it to take the proud position it 
is entitled to occupy in the Confedcrac}' of States. 

Aside from politics, he is a nniu of generous and noble impul- 
.ses, and his liberality and dc\otion to friends is proverbinl. 
There are hundreds of men in Pennsylvania m horn he aided Mdicu 
••ommencing their life's struggles, Avho are nvw pi-ospering in 
liusiness, .lustly is he entitled to the appellation ol" "'the poor 
man's frieiul, an<'l F*ennsylvania"s cliampion ot' the rights of 
labor." 

Pennsylvania, whose son he is, and to whose interest he lias 
l)een so faithful, will present his name to tlic Chicago Convention 
as her choice for the Presidency, and wilt urge his nomination 
with a confidence that should he be nominated, he will be triuni- 
)>hantly elected ; that beyond all (inestion lie will command the 



ur- t; 



ONGRESS 




thej ivould invoke the skill and assistance of practical and experienced ob?erv- 
pvn on ft subject, ■with which few of us are famiJiar, and point with precision to 
such parts of the extensive ej'stem as can be modified without weakening or 
endangering tho whole structure. They have forborne to do this. They 
demand an entire demolition. Fiiee Thai>e is tlie burden of their eloquence, 
the golden fleece of their adventurous enterprise; the goal short of which they 
will not pause even fo breathe. I cannot join their expedition for such object. 
An established policy — coeval, in the language of I''i-osident .Tack^on, with our 
Government — belicve<l by an immense m.ojority of our people tfi be constitii- 
iional, wise, and expedient, may not be abruptly abandoned l>y Congress with- 
ont a trcachermis dejmrture from duty, a ajxinirlr.ss dereliction of sacred trust 
and contidence. To expect it is both extravagant and unkind." 

It will he remembered tliat in 1811 our Government claimed 
that our title to Oregon avus clear and indisputable, and the 
whole country was for asserting it. "Fifty-foiu- forty, or fight I" 
was the Democratic battle cry during tlie canvass, yet the Presi- 
dent and his Cabinet backed down from that line to 49. Gen. 
Cameron in his seat in the Senate declared " he believed fully 
our title only terminates where the Russian line begins, at 54 40," 
and did not abandon his position and vote for the acceptance of 
the proposition of the British Minister to make the boundary on 
the line of 40, clearly showing that he Avould not, for the sake of 
basking in the sunshine of political favor, agree to surrender one 
foot of territory that he believed rightfully belonged to us. 

During that Senatorial term he made rcjtcated efforts to pro- 
cure the passage of a tariff protecting the different branches of 
American industry, but the Northern Democracy, fearful of 
offending their cotton growing masters, always united with them 
to defeat him. So faithfully did he labor for the interests of his 
constituents, that men of all ])arties united in doing him honor, 
and conventions of both political parties endorsed his course, 
The Whigs of Columbia County passed the folloAving resolution, 
which was endorsed by other counties. 

Resolved — ^That as citizens of Pennsylvania we have looked 
with ]'ride and satisfaction to the honora1)le, faithful, untiring, 
yet unsuccessful exertions of the Jlon. Simon Cameron, in the 
defense of his native Slate during the petidancy of iVfcKay's 
British Tariff Bill before Congress; and however much we may 
differ on othf-r questions of public policy, as regards this one, 
we hail him as Peiu)sylvania''s true friend and champion, standing 
in noble and honorable contrast to the silver-haired trickster, 
who, by his casting vote, sold his native State to the tender mer- 
cies of man owners. 

Pending the passage of the Ten llegiment Bill during the 
Mexican war, (ien. Cameron offered an amendment to it, grant- 
ing 160 acres of land to every officer, private soldier, and musi- 
cian who Toliniteered dtu'ing that war. Notwithstatiding the 
amendment was fiercely assailed, he forced its acceptance upon 
the Senator who introduced the bill, and as amended, it passed 
the Senate by oidy a majority of one or two. 

His position on the slavery <|"<'stion is clear and unmistakable. 
He has all liis life been opposed to tbe extension of Slavery, and 
more than thirty years ago, while editing the Pennsylvania 



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